Los Angeles may add cool roofs to its building code

April 24, 2013 |

BD+C Staff

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa wants cool roofs added to the city’s building code. He is also asking the Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to create incentives that make it financially attractive for homeowners to install cool roofs.

Villaraigosa made the decision based on a report, Bright Roofs, Big City, which analyzes potential energy savings and other environmental benefits. The authors say that cool roofs on new and existing buildings would reduce the heat island effect, save $30 million a year on energy bills, and cut L.A.’s carbon footprint by 80%.